Fallon impresses as Rossies start campaign strongly
Roscommon 3-12 Fingal 0-9
Jerry Fallon helped himself to an impressive tally of 1-6 in Swords on Saturday, as Roscommon opened their Nicky Rackard Cup campaign with a victory over 14-man Fingal.
The north Dublin side were narrowly defeated by Tyrone in last year’s decider and even though they conceded four points to Fallon during the first quarter, scores from JM Sheridan, Niall Ring, Cillian O’Flynn and Danny Butterly kept them within touching distance.
However, the dismissal of half-forward Paul Graves on 29 minutes for a second yellow-card offence severely weakened Fingal’s cause and thanks to a well-taken Ronan O’Meara goal, the Rossies led 1-8 to 0-4 at the interval.
Fallon’s 51st-minute goal increased the Roscommon advantage to 11 points.
It was turning into a damage limitation exercise for Fingal. Sheridan finished with a personal haul of 0-6, but Cathal Kenny’s goal four minutes from time was the icing on the cake for the Rossies.
Scorers – Roscommon: J Fallon 1-6 (0-5f), R O’Meara 1-1, C Kenny 1-0, T Seale, C Dolan, C Egan, A Murphy, J Coyne 0-1 each. Fingal: JM Sheridan 0-6 (5f), N Ring, C O’Flynn, D Butterly 0-1 each.
Fingal – P Sheridan; N Feeney, I Kennedy, A Morris; P Quinn, N Ring, R McGarry; D Hattie, P McAllister; P Graves, S O’Brien, C O’Flynn; JM Sheridan, D Butterly, D Smyth. Subs: G Morris for Kennedy (26-29, blood sub), P Coyne for Quinn (41), I Furlong for O’Flynn (59), R Sheridan for O’Brien (62).
Roscommon – N Fallon; I Delaney, P Kellehan, L Kilcline; D Leonard, M Kelly, T Seale; C Dolan, K Kilkenny; J Moran, R O’Meara, J Fallon; C Egan, G Fallon, A Murphy. Subs: C Kelly for G Fallon (h-t), C Kenny for Murphy, H Rooney for Kelly (both 59), J Coyne for Egan (65).
Ref – P Murphy (Carlow).